title: Radon-222 levels in New York State homes.
abstract: Results are presented from a statewide survey that measured annual 222Rn concentrations in over 2000 single-family, owner-occupied homes in New York state. The participants were selected by a random-digit-dialing telephone interview approach developed by Mitofsky-Waksberg which allows inferences to be made from the sample to the statewide population. After completing a telephone questionnaire and agreeing to have their homes monitored, eligible households were mailed alpha-track detectors with instructions to place one detector in the main living area for 2 mo (during the winter heating season), a second in the main living area for 1 y, and a third in the basement (if applicable) for 1 y. The statewide median concentration for the heating-season, living-area readings was 31.6 Bq m-3, with a median of 24.0 Bq m-3 for the annual living-area readings and 51.8 for the annual basement readings. For the state, approximately 95% of the living-area concentrations and 86% of the basement concentrations were below 148 Bq m-3 (4 pCi L-1). In addition, only 1.4% of the readings in the basement were above 740 Bq m-3 (20 pCi L-1).
authors.affiliation: Research Triangle Institute, NC 27709.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Perritt
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Hartwell
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rizzuto
mesh_terms: D006361:Heating; D006798:Housing; D009518:New York; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D011848:Radioactive Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D011886:Radon / Q000032:analysis*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D011848:Radioactive Pollutants; D011886:Radon